Shigeru Omi
Shigeru Omi
Shigeru Omiis the current Regional Director of the Western Pacific Regional Office for the World Health Organization. He was born in Tokyo in 1949 and currently lives in Manila...
consequences disposal early economies ensure global health instantly pandemic public ready respond signs weapons
We must try to ensure that we will be ready to respond instantly with all the weapons at our disposal should the early signs of an influenza pandemic appear. If we fail, the consequences for societies, economies and global public health could be immeasurable.
pandemic prepare window
While we still have a window of opportunity, we must do everything we can to avert an influenza pandemic as we simultaneously prepare for a worse-case scenario,
continuing month pandemic passing situation threat
The situation is worsening with each passing month and the threat of an influenza pandemic is continuing to grow.
believe building caused chance change course head history momentum pandemic
I believe the momentum that is now building up will give us a chance to change the course of history and head off a pandemic caused by the H5N1 virus.
believe delay measures pandemic possible rapid stop
We still believe it is possible to stop or delay a pandemic by implementing rapid containment measures very quickly.
bring countries european possible
It is possible that European countries can bring this under control,
coming emerging encounter likely mind
We must keep in mind that we are likely to encounter in the coming years many other new emerging diseases,
similar
I think it is similar to tsunamis and earthquakes...we do not know when,
farmers incentive realize report suspected
We need to realize that there is very little incentive for farmers to report suspected outbreaks,
affecting among chickens crucial time
Surveillance is crucial because, in my view, the outbreaks affecting transmission among chickens were there for some time without being noticed.
given time unlike warning
Unlike the influenza pandemics of the past, this time the world has been given a warning that one may be on its way.
asian chance contain europe excellent
There is an excellent chance for Europe to contain the Asian flu.
based calendar cases number past
Based upon past experience, approaching the Lunar calendar New Year, the number of cases will increase. That is our observation.
alert among based diminish epidemic means poultry seriously
Based our experience, the epidemic among poultry may temporarily diminish and then seriously return, which means we should keep alert and well prepared.